like butter

When you hit all the lights right so that even during rush hour, you make it into work in record time.

first day back

Back at work, and the first thing I see is a new snuggly dog bed that the CEO bought Henry because he's such a dog guy. Second thing I see is a mocha on my desk from my work wife. Third thing I see is my new manager, who ten years ago first hired me into Google. It's good to be back.

nappy

We've been home 26 hours and I've already had two naps and a full night of sleep. Getting home from vacation on a Friday is the best.

exuberance

I don't think my dog has ever been as excited to see me as he was when I picked him up yesterday.

three years later

Reservation tonight for what was our favorite place in Tokyo last time, and I'm all anticipation to see if it lives up to the memory.

tubthumping

Vacation is a king size bed, blackout shades, and a lovely bathtub.

glorious tokyo

Secret little seven person cocktail bar, uni soba, schoolchildren in tiny hats with giant backpacks, truffle rice, red bean pancakes, lotus root wrapped in bacon and fresh off the grill, seasonal pickles, tonkatsu with a choice of pig and cut, rich slurpy ramen... And we're only halfway through the trip.

small world

Flew halfway around the world (in an almost empty first class cabin), only to run into a friend at the Tokyo airport. Weekend plans will ensue!

nihon

Time to go eat things in Japan!!

we got this

After a few hours of controlled panic, my co-worker and I realized that despite a bare bones transition, we've got this. We're not half bad, and with my favorite manager ever coming in, we're going to be awesome.

one year in

Hung out with two girl friends that I met a year ago and had a hilarious four hours of wine, cheese, and immaturity.

best week

Two amazing things happened at work this week. One is a blast from the past, and one is a reward for the future. I'm so damn lucky.

amazing

Just slept fourteen hours for the first time in I don't know how long, and it was amazing.

aww shucks

Creative director stopped me in the hallway and said that when he was interviewing, he looked at or team photos in the website and said that he had never seen a lawyer wearing a leather jacket in an official photo before, and that he thought it must be a different kind of company with the coolest legal team.

bye

Trees are starting to bloom, and the ten day forecast breaks 70° every day, so winter is definitely on its way out.

friends in town

Friends in town for the next few days, lots of old jokes and catching up to do on recent developments. Good times.

got my back

When your CEO trusts your judgment on some pretty big stuff, then offhandedly mentions a bunch of things he's doing to make your life better because he wants you to stick around.

young people

Cambodian mentee stayed with us for a few days, and two girls who currently sing in my college choir stayed for the long weekend. Went to a concert with another choir friend, and got pulled up on stage to sing the signature song of the a cappella group and the Radcliffe alma mater and fight song. The nostalgia for college days was strong this month.

there is nothing

There is nothing quite like really liking the people you work with, especially when you like them enough to stay late to get some work and a lot of talking done.

sent

Finally got the first wave of invitations sent out for our crazy summer camp, and it's fun to see the RSVPs coming in. Can't wait!

warmth

All of the feathers in our down comforter shifted to Boyfriend's side, and last night, we flipped it to my side, and it was so warm and amazing.

it's people

When your coworker in Ops brings you boba one day, your HR BFF brings you a morning hot chocolate another day, and you can have a whole range of serious and silly conversations with your other work friends, you know you're working with good people.

second to last

Almost the last day of the year, and I managed to return library books, sort through a bunch of clothes and books and donate them, redo my purple hair dye, and firm up plans for tomorrow to pick up my mentee, go to brunch and a sing along Sound of Music with my sister and a former work friend, and go to a New Year's Eve party. I think my reading total for the year will be 65; nowhere near where it's been for the past seven years, but still quite respectable, given the hours I've been working.

contentment

Tell a dog he's a good boy, put his bed in a sunny spot, and he will teach you the meaning of contentment.

it gets better

Every day for the next six months will be brighter than the last.

overdue

A fresh pedicure never fails to please.

good friday

Lunch at Google with a friend, Star Wars with coworkers, a gorgeous sunset (I never see sunsets anymore), a drink with my two work BFFs, a prank gift for one of them, a few rounds of our favorite video game, and a quick dinner out. A pretty good Friday.

cavalry

Reinforcements have arrived, and my new teammate is great. She knows all kinds of things I don't, and is fresh and ready to work. It's nice to have a peer, and I'm so glad she's joined.

scent hound

Last week, I suddenly had the illusion of a scent that I hadn't smelled in years. It smelled exactly like Fiver after he'd had a bath. I breathed it deeply and felt all the memories come back just like that. I haven't smelled him since he died, and I don't know why I thought I smelled it last week, but it was wonderful.

do gooders

Team volunteer event today, and fourteen of us sorted and packed over 5,000 pounds of food!

roll tide

Huge sigh of relief as Alabama elects a Democratic senator instead of the pedophile the Republicans ran. After a couple Dem governors were voted in last month, I'm starting to feel a little bit of hope after the debacle of last year.

a good book

Finally, after months of book drought, I've hit a streak of a few good books, including the great one I'm reading right now. Quiet house, sunny afternoon, couch, dog, blanket, book. I could do this every day.

star wars marathon

Surprised a coworker with a Star Wars marathon today, and we had a great time eating, drinking, watching movies, and hanging out.

quitter

I haven't had coffee in four days, and I'm still alive.

feast finished

Forty hours of family, friends, and food complete. This year, we scaled it back, so we "only" had veggies, hummus, cheese, bread, smoked salmon, pork belly buns, prime rib, asparagus with eggs, Brussels sprouts with bacon, mashed potatoes, bourbon sweet potato souffle, and pumpkin pie with ice cream. Plus our traditional fondue the night before and crepes the morning after. Mischief managed.

aww

Sleep barking never fails to be adorable.

at least

When I'm sick and working from home, at least Henry gets to sunbathe.

preparations underway

Pork belly is in the sous vide bath for the night, so Thanksgiving must be coming soon.

surprisingly okay

Going back on meds and not actually that upset about it this time around. It's been a rough few months, so it makes sense.

at least

At least the uncontrolled communications within a nosy family mean I was able to avoid an awkward conversation with my parents and find out their thoughts without taking to them...

coup de grace

When you're the black sheep of the family, but everyone believes you when you tell them about a terrible thing that happened in the past, and they band together to try to do the right thing, and you almost start to understand why other people trust their families.

cleaner

When you finally go through the papers on your desk for the first time in months, get rid of most of them, and you can see your desk again.

starburst

When you open up those little two packs of Starburst, and three out of four are pink.

good talk

Got off the phone after catching up with friends for the first time in a while, and realized we were on the phone for over four hours! Time flies with old friends.

aaa

Well, that's the third time in 1.5 years that I've had to call AAA, this time for a flat tire. I guess it makes the membership fees for the previous seven uneventful years worthwhile? Also, no idea how they got to me in fifteen minutes and changed the tire in five.

single weekend

Sleeping in while taking up the whole bed. Pho and games with friends. Re-dyeing my hair. Pedicure. Dog cuddles. Massage. Books. Those are my crazy plans for my anniversary weekend while Boyfriend is out of town.

me too

When your friends and family start telling you the things they have been most ashamed of, and you feel honored to receive such trust and faith.

all mine

When your boyfriend goes to visit his family and you get the whole bed to yourself, and sleep for nine hours for the first time in god knows how long.

wanna cookie?

When your coworker brings in three bags of dog treats for your dog, because her dog changed diets.

ketchup

When you come into work and a coworker left this for you.

prison break

Had my third prison volunteering event today, and realized that a lot of the things that we've been teaching the guys in the program and vulnerability, shame, and trust are things I've been working on because of the program. I posted my #metoo posts partly because I found myself telling things to strangers in prison that I was afraid to tell my own friends and family. I owe a lot to these men, who happen to be in prison, and who have taught me so much.

Also, I won a t-shirt in a raffle there! I've never won a raffle in my whole life. So I get to keep my family AND I get a shirt. It was a good day.

bombs away

Drew a line in the sand with cousins. Waited. And watched as a large number stepped over to my side.

been a minute

Surprising and emotional week after a YOLO post about sexual assault and harassment. Support and love from unexpected quarters. Then, fondue.

More generally, feeling pretty valued at work, which helps get me through the roughness of a bumpy launch.

Completely unrelated, quickly tracked down a friend's "the one that got away," and they've gotten back in touch, picked up where they left off, and I hope to be a flower girl, at last.

end of the week

Finally got another massage from my favorite massage therapist last night, and I'm still happily sore. Slept in this morning, and puttering around at home for the day.

eight years in

After over eight years of allergy shots, probably over 150 shots, my allergist told me she thinks we can try going off the shots and see if I can be done for good!

slow loris

Surprise visitors at work yesterday included a lemur, a kinkajou, an alligator, a great horned owl, an eagle, and this slow loris. Also had lots of human visitors, including three former officemates and one other coworker from my Google days (one was Boyfriend), one bearing a haul of gummies from Switzerland. Stayed until 9:30 for social reasons rather than work reasons for the first time in months. Much needed after a roller coaster week.

accidental investment

When you realize that the house you bought on a whim has increased $1M in value in four years.

just in time

Biggest thunderstorm I've ever seen in California (and during the dry season!) broke the heat just as the air conditioner repair guy said we can't use the air conditioning until he gets a replacement part in.

Dat lightning, tho'.

good times

Happy times with old friends and new, more free time than I've had in a year, more time with the boyfriend than I've had this year, some quality reading time, extra sleep, pretty dives with great coral, fish I'd never seen before, and a sea snake, which I haven't seen since 2003.

Back to reality and I was actually ready for it this time. I've got my dog back. My co-workers missed me, my CEO gave me a raise and told me that I've been working hard and doing a good job, and there is so much going on to jump right back in and keep having fun. Also, I had a one day work week, and tomorrow, I landed a sweet reservation for dinner, just in time to wear one last rented dress before I send them back in.

it's been ages

Since I changed jobs, we haven't traveled as much as we used to, and the trips we have taken have been hectic ones. This is the first time in over a year that I've had this much time to just sit around, read, nap, and enjoy the sun. I forgot what this feels like!

it's been ages

Since I changed jobs, we haven't traveled as much as we used to, and the trips we have taken have been hectic ones. This is the first time in over a year that I've had this much time to just sit around, read, nap, and enjoy the sun. I forgot what this feels like!

dive nerd

Went on two dives yesterday and was inordinately pleased that a friends and his friend separately expressed admiration for my air consumption and buoyancy control. Only a diving nerd would care.

shipping

LA and back again yesterday for our final launch event, and phones are shipping, just in time for me to leave on vacation tomorrow.

countdown

First vacation this year starts in six days!! First stamp in the new passport coming soon...

simple things

After over a week of a broken water heater and showering at work, we have a water heater again!

and we're off

Press embargo lifted, first reviews are out, launch events in progress, and things are going surprisingly all right.

duty calls

Jury duty for the second time in my adult life. Dismissed after six hours of waiting. Inbox surprisingly well behaved.

home stretch

Last spring towards launch, and after a week of non-stop 14-16 hour days, it's good to see the amount of work I got done, to get emails and texts from the president and my boss saying they know how hard I'm working, and then to sleep in a bit today, get some sun, and go college shopping with my mentee. It's a good recharge before digging back in.

perfect gift

My mentee brought us gifts from Cambodia, and one of them was the traditional scarf they wear there that we wanted to get and didn't have time. I've regretted not getting one for the last year and a half, but now I'm glad I didn't, since it's much more meaningful to have one from her.

she's here

Over a year after we started working together, our mentee arrived from Cambodia!! She's smart, sweet, kind, and worth all the time we put in together.

make it rain

My birthday is coming up this weekend, and I'm long past the age where birthdays mean presents, but I'm moved to tears by the friends who are donating to my favorite non-profits. Love.

my jam

Went by myself to a community sing of the Brahms Requiem last night, as my other friends couldn't make it. It was me and 100 old people I don't know. We didn't sound great, but I loved singing it again, just the same.

hamilton

Finally got to see it a couple weeks ago with my sister and brother in law, and it was fascinating and lingers in the mind. I'm not a history junkie, nor am I a big hip hop fan, but it was pretty brilliant and both of our time and of his time.

freedom and hope

Last weekend, I spent sixteen hours on buses to put in two long days at a supermax prison, meeting some of the most ordinary and extraordinary people, and realizing how extraordinary an experience it is to meet people who are so different from me but also so much the same. My heart and mind are still racing.

bored boss

When the CEO drops by because he's bored and wants you to entertain him, asks your opinion on how different members of the team are doing (after asking you yesterday to help get the team gelled and on track), and then he tells you that you're underpaid and he's going to fix it, it's a pretty awesome five minute interlude in the middle of an otherwise lightspeed day.

some weeks

Even though it was a three day week, it was crushingly productive, with some work on the weekends on either end. Oddly satisfying. Plus a little mental prank thrown in for good measure.

happy puppy

My dog was so happy to see me when I got in to the office this morning! It's good to be missed.

back again

Long weekend in Portland with good friends, good food, good weather, lots of walking, and lots of cards. Less work than expected, and now it's back to the startup grind.

verklempt

Went to see Wonder Woman with some female co-workers yesterday, and I have to admit that it was surprisingly touching to see badass women fighting and saving men, instead of the other way around.

good girl

COO told me he knows I pull late hours and that I'm an indispensable member of the team who helps set the tone for everyone else. It's nice to get good feedback.

steam

Two weekends in a row, blowing off steam with coworkers, definitely needed to release the pressure valve a bit. Then some climbing and sleeping in. Now a tough week ahead before heading to Portland for food, friends, and cards.

happiness is

A dog yawning in the sun.

happiness is

A dog yawning in the sun.

prison break

A day in prison reminded me of all the lucky breaks and blind choices that led me here. Being offline really made sure I was fully engaged and not distracted. That was some tough stuff, but I think if everyone did this, we'd be closer to figuring out how to make life better for everyone.

girls

College friend in town for a conference this weekend, and another one just moved to the area, so we're getting four of us together over the weekend! Old friends are the best.

jail time

Volunteering in prison next week, and even worked out a carpool, which is great, because it's far...

efficiency

When a previous manager and a current manager give you compliments in the same week about being one of the most efficient people they've ever worked with, you start to wonder if you're more efficient than you thought.

old timers

Get together with some old time Google Legal folks, and it was so great to see people and reminisce about the olden days and find out what everyone is up to.

bail

Sometimes, bailing is more fun than going.

word of mouth

A former coworker said her boyfriend works with the guy who lived downstairs from me first year of law school and that he said that we are the two most successful people in our class. An odd statement that I don't agree with, but interesting that he thinks that.

on the books

Summer Camp 2018 is in the works!!!!

first for everything

Talking to one of my product guys today, and he asked me how I ended up as a lawyer, and I wasn't sure what he meant. He said he'd never had conversations with lawyers where they gave him an answer or a path to an answer until now, and that he'd always avoided talking to them unless he had to. Now he stays late with me for pranks. So... I'll take it as a compliment, back-handed or not.

free stuff

Also, I've been dogfooding our new phone for weeks, and found out that I was picked to dogfood over some of the engineers who actually work on the thing. So that was fun. And today, we got our first company swag.

and we're live

Marketing launch went well today, and some intrepid reporters even figured out Henry's role in some secrets he was keeping until the announcement, generating his own adorable little press cycle.

exceeds expectations

When you've got a Marketing coworker who is organized, logical, calm, and finds ways to create order in the midst of chaos.

girl friends

Are the best. Making two new girl friends this year has been super fun. Two bottles of sparkling wine, a pint of sorbet, a bunch of cheese, crackers, and grapes, and Boggle are all you need for five hours of laughs.

two time champ

Two nights in a row falling asleep with nothing but melatonin!! I'm a superhero!

that feeling when

Things at work are about to get a whole lot crazier, possibly in a good way. Hold on for dear life.

i did it

After months of ramping down Ambien and weeks of using gabapentin as a transition, I fell asleep last night without either one. It wasn't great, but I can't remember the last time I managed that.

summer is here

Accidental hiatus! Life is intense, but lots of good things. Henry is back up and running, and has had a couple of weekend playdates. It's finally summer in earnest, with hot sun and long days every day. I've come to terms with reading only 50-60 books this year, instead of 100. I'm getting lots of work done, I still haven't gotten yelled at, and my new boss seems to like me. I'm testing out our product, and I can see it improving as the engineers push out changes. I've started climbing again, and am still fitting in time with friends and my sister, despite long hours at work.